David Anointed King

2 Samuel 1-10

King David’s accomplishments.

•  David kills the Amalakite who killed Saul.
• He becomes king over the Jews or the House of Judah
• Conquers the Philistines.
• Israel makes David King.
• He takes Jerusalem.
• David follows the Lord's counsel and is blessed.
• He leads his people with judgement and justice.    
• Good Leader.     

 

1 Chronicles 22:7-8 &  Institute Student Manual Commentary for 2 Samuel 7:1-17, 

“Why Was David Not Allowed to Build the Temple?”

David explained to Solomon that the Lord had revealed to him that he had seen too much war and bloodshed as well as shed too much blood and been a part of too much war in his life to build a temple. The Lord probably believed that there was too much violence in David's life and that that should not be incorporated with the temple.

2 Samuel 7:12-17 & 2 Samuel 7:18-29

I would feel really comfortable with life and death if the Lord had made all of these promises too me. David's posterity is promised to be blessed. I also would be really making sure that I didn't stray from his commandments.

The prophecy is one of Christ because David comes from the Savior's lineage. David says a prayer of gratitude showing that he is thankful that he came from Christ and for all of his promised blessings. He also tell the Lord how great He is. David knows where his success and happiness has come from.

“The Woman Bare a Son, and Called His Name Samson”

 

Judges 13-16

 

This is a compilation of possible greatness of Samson and his failings.

Promises and Blessings	Sins
Samson was promised to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines.	He killed his wife and his father in law.
The Lord promised Samson endless strength if he would agree to not cut his hair.	Samson went in unto an harlot.
Samson was given success over the Philistines, he slew a thousand men with a jawbone of a donkey.	Samson fell in love with a Philistine and lost sight of his purpose.
The Spirit was moved upon Samson.	He betrayed his secret and broke his promise to the Lord. This gave him away to his enemy.
	He killed when a Nazarite is promised not to.

 

Why do you think some people with so much potential make such bad decisions.

This is the hardest thing to watch as a friend, as a sibling, and as a parent. I think that maybe people with so much potential have great talents that they have never had to work for and they take them for granted. I think also probably that if you have that great potential the devil is working against you as hard as he can.

I think that sometimes these people are accepted widely by their peers and maybe thrive on that, and in order to continue being accepted by their peers they make bad decisions. I have seen people in high school in this position who just want to stand out, for good or for bad and so sometimes they go off of the deep end.

I think that in cases like Samson's he probably thought himself invincible and so he gave way to temptation. May these people don't want the pressure or just don't realize how great they can be- I think everyone is guilty of underestimating their potential.

 Judges 13:5; Numbers 6:1-9 & Institute Student Manual commentary for Judges 13:5,
 

“What Is a Nazarite?”

• A Nazarite makes a vow to seperate themselves unto the Lord.
• He seperates himself from strong drink and can never eat anything that is made from the vine tree.
• He can not cut his hair until the day when his vow has been fulfilled unto the Lord.
• He can not come at any dead body.
• He can not kill others and if he does he must shave his head.

 

  Which of His Vows did Samson Break?

• He enabled the Philistines to cut his hair and break his promise to the Lord.
• He killed men.
• He went unto dead men.

 How could you  avoid yielding to temptation in your own life?

 

I think that from the example of Samson something huge that we learn is that we need to stay as far AWAY from temptation and sin as possible.

He fell in love with Delilah and broke every promise to the Lord.

Something my mom always would tell me is that you will love who you date. If we stay away from temptation and sin and the line that seperates right and wrong we will make sure that we will not fall over on the wrong side.
Also always keeping our covenants and promises to the Lord will give us the strength that we need to overcome tempation IF we are keeping ourselves in holy places, praying always, and following the promptings of the Spirit.

We need to remember that none of us are the exception so we all need to follow the commandments and warnings, and to stay focused on the promises of the Lord, the potential He has given us, and our purpose on this earth.

In doing all of these things I think that we will be protected.

 

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

Joshua 10:12-14 & The Institute Student Manual commentary for Joshua 10:12-14

“Did the Sun Really Stand Still in the Heavens?”

The sun didn't actually stand still. In the Book of Mormon we are taught that the earth actually moved the opposite direction in order to make it appear that the sun stood still. I think that its hard to explain a lot of things that the Lord is capable of but when you feel His hand in your life there is no denying the truth of it.

The sun standing still, or the earth changing direction because it was commanded really is nothing in comparison of the great things that are going to happen when the Savior is going to come again. There are many things in the world that can only be explained through faith.

However, this was not a contradiction to science, it only appeared to stand still because it did not set or rise.

Joshua 7-22.

 

 

 

Israel’s Successes

 

Joshua 8 ses an ambush takes Ai.

Joshua 9 Israel creates an alliance with the Gibeonites.

Joshua 10 Israel defeats the Amorites and their allies. The Lord fights for Israel.

Joshua 11 Joshua and Israel conquer the whole land.

Joshua 12 Two kings on the east of Jordan and 31 on the west are conquered by Israel.

 

 

Israel’s Failures.

 

Joshua 7: Israel is defeated by the people of Ai.

The Achan household is destroyed becasue he disobeyed the Lord.

 

Joshua 23-24 & the Institute Student Manual commentary for Joshua 24:1-28,

 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve”

 

What do you think was the major theme of Joshua’s final address to his people? Based on the lists you created from Joshua 7-22, write a paragraph that explains why Joshua chose to deliver his final address on this particular topic.

I think that the major address was just themed around the importance of serving and relying on the Lord. From Joshua 7-22 we can see that when the Israelites were prideful they suffered failures but as soon as they learned to put their trust in the Lord they were successful in all of their doings and no one could stand against them.

Joshua learned the importance of not relying on his own strength but trusting in the Lord. He learned that when he did this all of his attempts were successful and life.

Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25

 

Deuteronomy 20:17 The Different Nations Identified By the Lord

 

The Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaannites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

 

What the Lord Commanded Israel to Do With These Nations.

 

The Lord commanded Israel to utterly destroy these nations, to make no conenants with them and to have no mercy upon them.

He also commanded him that he should destroy all of the places in which they served their gods. He told him to "overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place."

This reminded me of what Jesus did in the temple. Our Heavenly Father commands that we shall serve no other gods and He is punishing those who disregarded Him and all of the things that He has given them.

Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?

Deutronomy 9:4-5

Istitute Student Manual commentary for Deuteronomy 7:1-5

 

He commanded Israel to destroy the canaanites for their disobedience. He said that they were speaking in their HEARTS against the Lord. They were brought into the land because of righteousness but were being cast out because of wickedness.

The student manual teaches us that the groups intermarried and ignored the instruction of the Lord that their spouses would pull them away from following Him. Some acts of evil are so detrimental to society that the only way we can be cured of them is the death of the guilty party, as was the situation here. Their evil was so infectious and contaminating that sparing them would prove the downfall of society, as we see after Israel failed to follow these instructions.

“He that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity” (1 Nephi 17:35).

Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society.

How Do  You Think We Can Protect Ourselves From These Sins?

 I think that one commandment that would be a protection would be not to inter marry with "the other countries" that don't serve God as the Canaanites did. It is so beneficial for us to have the love and support from a spouse of things pertaining to the gospel or it is hard to remain faithful to the Lord.

Also making sure that we are folling the commandments, regularly evaluating ourselves, and doing things such as going to church and reading our scriptures to make sure that we are kept on track.

I think another big one is controlling our thoughts. Thoughts are where every action begins and they will direct our love and opinions.

We have to love the Lord with all of our might MIND and strength.

The Brazen Serpent

Numbers 21:4-9

 

• What did the children of Israel do that resulted in the curse of the “fiery serpents”?

 

They were "speaking against God" after he had answered their prayers and protected them. They were murmering because of their lack of food and not putting their trust in the Lord.

 

• In what ways are people today sometimes like unto the children of Israel anciently? 

1 Nephi 17:45.

 

I think that often people today don't see the blessings that Lord has given them and they speak against Him looking at all of the things that they don't have and turning away from Him.

 

• According to Alma 33:18-22, what did the brazen serpent symbolize?

 

The serpent is a symbol of Jesus Christ and his atonoment.

 

• How does one “look to” Jesus Christ for healing?

 

You have faith in him that he can heal you of your sins and excersise the power of the atonement.

 

• Aside from physical healings, how can “looking to” the Savior heal a person in other ways?

 

Repenting can heal your soul and restore peace and confidence back into your life.

 

• Where else do people sometimes turn for healing other than the Savior?

 

People of the world often turnt to things like drinking and other substances to help them forget the pain.There are others who find comfort in eating, buying things, or support from loved ones.

 

• What are simple things in the gospel of Jesus Christ that can heal us?

 

The gift of the Holy Ghost. Forgiveness. Love.

 

• How have you experienced the healing power of the Atonement in your life?

 

I have felt the healing power of the Atonement many times in my own life. I think that the most common feeling of healing I have recieved through the Atonement is in my heart. I have a hard time forgiving myself for times I have fallen short and the peace that the Atonement has given to me has been so strong, genuine, and real.

I also have felt the healing power in the ability of the Savior to understand my trials. Growing up there were things that were really hard in my family that I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone about and I really felt that the power of the Atonement was able to comfort and protect me and I was able to grow from the experience.

I know it's real and has the ability to heal us all.

Clean vs. Unclean

 Leviticus 11-14                  

  

What Israel Could & Could Not Eat..

Clean	Unclean
Beasts Who Have: A Part in Hoof Cloven Footed                                                                                 Chew the Cud                                                                                                                                All in the Water that don't have fins & scales            From Seas & Rivers	Coney Camel Rabbits Swine All in the Water without Fins & Scales Every Raven, Owl, Night Hawk, Cuckow, Hawk, Little Owl, Cotmoarant, Locust, Great Owl, Swan, Pelican, Gier Eagle, Stork Bald Locus Lapwing, Bat, Gowls that Creep On All Fours Beetle, Weasel, Mouse  Toirtoise, Ferret, Grasshopper, Chameleon, Lizard, Snail, Mole

 

                  

 Institute Manual Leviticus 11-18
 " If the dietary code is seen both symbolically and as part of a system of laws that covered all the customary acts of life, it becomes apparent how it served. God was using the diet as a teaching tool. People may forget or neglect prayer, play, work, or worship, but they seldom forget a meal. By voluntarily abstaining from certain foods or by cooking them in a special way, one made a daily, personal commitment to act in one’s faith. At every meal a formal choice was made, generating quiet self-discipline. Strength comes from living such a law, vision from understanding it. "
" Each time they got hungry they were forcibly reminded of personal identity and community bond. Indeed, they belonged to a people set apart.  "    

It's interesting because the Word of Wisdom was so strict in this time but it was a constant reminder of obedience. It was a daily commitment to follow what they were commanded to do and through that they became a people "set apart" I'm sure that it reminded them that they needed to remain just as faithful in all other aspects of their life as well. It's good for us to have those reminders and renewel of commitment to our Heavenly Father.

Word Of Wisdom Today

 

For the Use of Man

Fruits

Grain (Staff of Life)

Beasts and Fowls Sparingly

Wholesome Herbs

 

Restricted From the Use of Man

Wine, Strong Drinks

Tobacco

Hot Drinks and Coffee

Why the Lord Commands Unclean and Clean Today

I think the reason that the Lord has the word of wisdom instituted today is because our bodies are temples and He wants us to remain clean as well as us to keep our temples clean. The things that are unclean in today's terms are unhealthy and will have detrimental affects on our body and limit our options, He gives this law to us as a protection.
I think that He uses this as a sanctification process because not only is it literally cleaning and sanctifying our bodies but it is allowing us to clean our lives through keeping and fullfilling the commandments and it's making us stronger.
By committing to keep these commandments we can be more clean in our lives, as well as through consistently using the atonement.

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20: 3-17

 

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me

 

Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image

 

Thou Shalt Not Take The Lord Thy God's Name In Vain

 

Remember The Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy

 

Honor They Father And Thy Mother

 

Thou Shalt Not Kill

 

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultry

 

Thou Shalt Not Steal

 

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor

 

Thou Shalt Not Covet Anything Of They Neighbor

 

Matthew 22:36-40

 

The Lord tells us that the two great commandments are to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind.

Then second, to love thy neighbor as thyself.

 

He then says that all of the commandments hang on these two laws.

 

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me: Love God

Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image: Love God

Thou Shalt Not Take The Lord Thy God's Name In Vain: Love God

Remember The Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy: Love God

Honor They Father And Thy Mother: Love thy Neighbor

Thou Shalt Not Kill: Love they Neighbor

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultry: Love the Neighbor and Love God and the precious gift he has given you.

 

 

Thou Shalt Not Steal: Love thy Neighbor

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor: Love they Neighbor

Thou Shalt Not Covet Anything Of Thy Neighbor: Love thy Neighbor

 

The 3 commandments that I feel are most commonly neglected by the world are not COVETING anything of thy Neighbors, not having OTHER GODS, and not KEEPING THE SABBATH holy.

 

I think that we covet things of others with out even thinking about it. It has become just part of societal nature. We want our friends car, clothes, house, life.

Along with that anything that we revolve our lives around can be constituted as having other Gods. Things such as sports, friends, models or celebrities, clothes, excersise, even things that are good if we spend more time thinking about them than our Heavenly Father and if we determine our choices around them that is worshiping "other Gods".

Lastly, keeping the Sabbath. Rarely does it seem that a person sets asside everything of the world  (TV, homework, work, friends) for our Heavenly Father every Sunday.

Do we read our scriptures and reflect upon where our life is and should be and spend our time worshiping God and the great things he has done for us?

 

 

 

So how will our lives be blessed by following these commandments?

We are commanded to LABOR for 6 days and rest for 1. By following both of these parts of the commandment and not being wasteful and idle the rest of the week and resting and worshiping the Lord we will be sanctified, kept holy, and spiritually clean.  The violation of the Sabbath law indicates a kind of death- a spiritual death.

We are promised rest, temporal plenty, divine protection, and spiritual power in keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

 

If God is not first then everything else will be affected. Not even life itself can come before God.

We will not be favored of God if we put him second to worldly things whatever they will be. Any time the children of man put things before God the work of the Lord will be thwarted. By doing this you will lesson the power of God in your own life. Nothing besides our Heavenly Father that we are worshiping can bring us joy and by worshiping these things we will have false dependence and emptyness. The Lord is the only thing that can leave us fullfilled and bring us eternal joy.

 

Finally, the commandment of covetting can not be broken with out breaking all of the other commandments as well. The problem doesn't occur when we have an honest desire to better ourselves or we admire what our neighbor has it occurs when things begin to matter to much.

The person who covets may put things above God, they may desecrate the Sabbath to get gain, they may fail to sustain their father and mother in need, they may kill to get gain, he who covets his neighbors wife may commit adultery, they may steal to get gain, and they may lie to secure these material things for themselves.

 

We need to protect ourselves from this sin in order to strengthen ourselves against the breaking of the rest of the commandments and further condemnation.

The commandments are not set as restrictions they are the guidlines for our genuine long term happiness.

There is enough plenty in the world for all. 

 

 

Preparing to Meet the Lord

 

 

Exodus 19:3-6, 10-11

 

 

 

 

What did the Lord want the children of Israel to become?

 

The Lord wanted the children of Israel to become a peculiar treasure. I loved this because peculiar means out of the ordinary and I feel that the Lord means that they are especially important to Him.

He is really showing them how much He loves and favors these people.

 

He also said that He wanted them to become a kingdom or priests and a holy nation.

He wants to give this kingdom the priesthood and the power that He has to give them  so that they can reach their full portential and recieve the blessings that will be granted through that.

He also talks about making them a holy nation. I think a nation that has been made holy unto the Lord will be blessed above other nations and will be prosporous and with out contention.

 

 

What did the Lord command them to do that would help them achieve this goal?

 

 The Lord commands them obey His commandments and to keep His covenant.

He also talks about how they need to be sanctified.

 

I feel like the Lord's commandments are always given for our good. They are never selfish and are only for His benefit because He loves us, wants us to be happy, and wants us to return to Him.

Through keeping His commandments and staying true to the covenant they will naturally recieve these goals or blessings because that will be the consequence of their righteous actions.

 

What was the promised blessing if they could achieve these commandments?

 

The Lord talks about how He is going to bare them up on "eagles wings" and bring them to Him like He did with the Egyptians.

I can't think of a more wonderful blessing than being lifted up and strengthened by God and brough back to Him.

He also talks about how they will be a treasure to Him and have a Holy Nation.

I think that our Heavenly Father's love is one of the most sweet blessings we could ever recieve, as well as living in a righteous nation where those around you love you and buoy you up and you do the same for them.

 

In what way does this apply to US all?

 

We are all given commandments and have entered in to convenants that we have to stay strong and faithful too.

Our Heavenly Father gives us these Holy Scriptures so that we know that we can recieve these promised blessings as well.
If we are faithful He will lift us us and love us and we will be a treasure unto Him and protected.

He wants us to be a nation with the priesthood. The blessing of having the power of God on the earth are unimaginable.

We are promised all of these sweet wonderful blessings if we are sanctified, faithful in the word of God, and keep our covenants.

 



The Sacred Covenant of Marriage

Marriage in the Covenant

Genesis 24, 27:46, 28:1-2, 29:1-30

 

1.      Genesis 24:1-4: Why was Abraham concerned about his sons?

       He was so concerned that his sons would marry one of the daughters of the Caananites and marry outside of the covenant that he made them promise they would not.

 

 

Consequences of Marrying Out of the Covenant



 Deuteronomy 7:1-4, 1 Corinthians 11:11, 2 Corinthians 6:14

 

 

Deut 7:4  says that if someone were to marry outside of the covenant that their spouse would turn them away from God and they would fall away from the church and worship "other Gods".
 
1 Corinthians 11:11 tells us that the man and the woman have to be together in God. If you don't have the support of your spouse you will not be able to be the faithful person or family that we are meant to be.

2 Cor 6:14 says that spouses will be unequally yoked together. If a husband and wife are not equally yoked together in anything they are doing it will not be successful.
 
      All of these principles have always applied to members of the good faithful people in the world and they still apply to us today.

Traits Rebeka had that would be desirable for a wife or husband.

 

She was chaste and virtuous. (vs. 16)

Rebekah was a hard worker. She performed the chores of her house with duty and willingness. (vs. 20)

She was obedient to the Lord's commandments and what he wanted. (vs. 58)

 

What was Jacob willing to do to marry Rachel? What you are willing to do to be worthy to marry within the covenant.

Jacob was willing to serve 14 years in order to marry Rachel.

 

       It meant everything to me to be worthy to marry within the covenant. We are taught that is the way to true joy and happiness and our only true way back to our Heavenly Father, and I can't think of anything I want more than that. I was willing to give up dating guys that I was interested in because I knew that they couldn't take me to the temple or give me the life that I wanted. I was willing to wait for my husband in every sense and to prepare to be the woman that a man who would take me to the temple would want to marry. I strived to strengthen my testimony and be obedient so that our marriage could be founded on correct principles. The gospel is everything to me, it's my life and my priority in everything. It is perfect. I am so grateful for a good husband that was willing to do everything to marry in the covenant as well and for the foundations of the gospel we have been able to base our marriage on and the happiness it has brought and continues to bring me.

 

 

 

The Abrahamic Covenant

Choice 1: Genesis 12-13, 15-17, 22. The Abrahamic Covenant

 Covenant from the bible dictionary tells us:

Sometimes denotes an agreement between persons or nations; more often between God and man; but in this latter day case it is important to notice that the two parties to the agreement do not stand in the relation of independent and equal contractors. God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts.

I thought that it was so interesting that the definition talks about how a covenant is not equal because He sets the terms. In my mind another thing that makes it ‘not equal’ is that we are so imperfect and do not always keep our end of our covenant, where God never breaks His covenant. Since He is the constant in the promise I think that it is more than right that He explains what He will do if we prove to be righteous enough. A covenant is a binding promise between us and God.

 

Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-16; 15:4-7, 18; 17:1-10, 15-19; Abraham 1:18-19 and 2:9-11;

 

What Abraham Promised to Do

What the Lord Promised Abraham

Leave his home and his family to go where God wants him to go. Ever man child among him will be circumcised. Be perfected and walk with God. To look to God or lift his eyes

God will make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, make him a blessing. Bless them that bless him and curse them that curse Abraham. He will bless the families of the earth through him. He will give Abraham countless land and seed so great they cannot number. Abraham’s son will be an heir of Gods house. Abraham’s children will be known among all of the nations. His wife will be a mother of all nations and will bear a son in her old age to Abraham. God will lead Abraham and give him the power of the priesthood. As many as accept the gospel will be numbered as his seed.

 

 

3. “Abraham, Covenant of” in the Bible Dictionary and read the Points to Ponder section in the Institute Student Manual (pg. 70–72). Also read Doctrine and Covenants 38:9, 132:29-33; 1 Nephi 15:14-18, 17:40, 19:15; 3 Nephi 20:25-27; and Genesis 22:17. Write a paragraph explaining how the Abrahamic covenant pertains to you and when it will be fulfilled. What are your responsibilities? What promises does the Lord make to you?

Abrahami, Covenant of[Bible Dictionary] :“The portions of the covenant that pertain to personal salvation and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinances of celestial marriage.” Abrahams covenant pertains to me because the Lord makes the same promises to me. Through getting a temple marriage I can have the blessing passed down to me and my posterity. My responsibilities are just to keep my covenants with the Lord and to live righteously so I can fulfill my part of the deal and get those blessings.

 

Genesis 16:1-3 Doctrine and Covenants 132:34, 65

Abraham was asked to take Sarah’s handmaid Hagar to wife and to have children with her since Sarah was old and unable to. He talks about how this is the ‘law’. God promised that Abraham would have a large posterity but with Sarah being unable to carry children because of her age she was being obedient and fulfilling the covenant that had been made.

 

 

Abraham: Father of Many Nations

Abram: Exalted Father

Sarah: Princess

Sarai: Contentions

The name change is significant because God promised Abraham countless posterity so with the covenant It was appropriate that Abraham be called the father of many nations. It is also appropriate for Sarah to be called a Princess because she is going to be a goddess over her countless posterity so she needed a different name.

The Tower of Babel

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

Genesis 11:1-9, Helaman 6:28, and Ether 1:3-4

• What was the stated purpose of building a tower?

The purpose that they claimed they were building the tower was so that they could reach Heaven by their own works and to be protected from another flood.


• Why do you think this angered the Lord?

The Lord's children were disregarding how He has taught them to get to heaven and they were prideful and thought they could get to heaven without His help. I feel as if they thought they were "outsmarting" God.

• What did God do to scatter the people?

God scattered the people by changing their languages and making them unable to understand each other. Because there was no ability to communicate they were not able to build the tower and they were seperated or scattered from each other.

• Ether 1:33-43 How the Jaredites from the Book of Mormon fit into this story.

I never realized this before but I thought this was really cool. The brother of Jared was at the tower of Babel at the time the Lord confounded everyone's language and manner of speaking. But the brother of Jared saw what was happening and had faith and cried unto God that he would not confound their language. And God had compassion on him because of his belief and promised to bless his his posterity, and through that the Jaredites came to be.

 

As is typical with Satan’s tactics, he will take a truth and twist it into a counterfeit. Note that the people building the tower of Babel tried to make a name for themselves, while the followers of the Lord willingly take His name upon them.

Acts 4:12; Mosiah 3:17, 5:7-15; and Doctrine and Covenants 18:21-25,
How we can receive “a name” (Genesis 11:4) that will truly help us reach heaven...

I think that it is so interesting that Satan works that way. He mingles the truth with a little bit of a lie so that we are confused and are able to justify ourselves. I am sure that is something that everyone is guilty of every once in a while and I think that if we were fully aware that it was Satan gaining power over us we would all be so much more careful in making sure we had ALL of the truth. The people of Babel thought that they could reach heaven with out the atonement and without Christ.

Through Jesus Christ we can recieve a name that will enable us to truly reach heaven. We can take his name upon us when we are baptized and when we endure to the end. None of us will be perfect and that is why we need our Savior, we need to repent and become perfect at repenting. By taking the sacrament ever week we will be able to continue to take His name upon us and make a name for ourselves that will help us reach heaven.

When I took out my endowments I feel like all of this had another meaning to me and I know that we can not be saved with our Savior. The people of Babylon were prideful and I think that we can learn a lot from our example. When we put ourselves above Christ and our Heavenly Father and don't believe that we need them we will suffer a similar fall. If we believe that our name is enough then we will soon be brought down to humility and realize how far we have errored. We need the name of Jesus Christ and I feel so humbled and blessed that we have a Savior who has made it possible for us to return home.