Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25. Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

Choice 1: Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25. Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

1. Read Deuteronomy 20:17 and make a list of the different nations the Lord identified in these verses. Then read Deuteronomy 2:15, 7:2, 12:2-3, and write a paragraph about what the Lord commanded Israel to do with these nations.
• The Lord was not pleased with the people. They are the Amorties, Canaanites, Hivites, Jebusites, and Hittites. Israel was to destroy them by completely destroying their altars, burn their groves, and break their pillars.

2. Read Deuteronomy 9:4-5 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Deuteronomy 7:1-5, “Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?” (pg. 219). Add to your previous paragraph any other reasons why these nations were destroyed.
• I look at this as the Lord “pruning” his vineyard cutting off the “bad” separating them from the good. Destroying the Canaanites could give way for righteousness to flourish. Because they are so wicked, the Lord had to destroy them.

3. Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society. Write a paragraph explaining how you think we can protect ourselves from these sins. 

• The only way that I can think of is to cling on to the gospel. The adversary will try to yank us off the gospel as hard as it could, and as many times as it could. What the gospel offer is protection as we strive to live it. The promise is as we follow God’s laws, blessings, even protection from evil’s influence will have less and less effect on us. This will only happen if we hold strong and stay true to our covenants.

Choice 3: Numbers 6. Nazarite Vows

1. Read Numbers 6:2-6, 14, 18; Judges 13:5, 24; 1 Samuel 1:11, 19-20, 28; Luke 1:13-15 as well as the Bible Dictionary entry for “Nazarite” (pg. 737) and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Numbers 6:1-21, “What Was a Nazarite?” (pg. 199). Then answer the following questions in writing:

• What were the requirements of a Nazarite?

This to me are people who follow a certain lifestyle.  They do not drink any strong drinks, grapes (moist or dry), did not cut their hair, made burnt offering to the Lord, did not come near dead people.

• Who were some famous Nazarites from scripture?

Samson would be one of them – he had long hair.

John the Baptist

2. Read Alma 5:57. Then write a paragraph about how the Lord wants Latter-day Saints to live differently from the world today.

• I was just thinking about how we are similar to the Nazarites. We as church members follow a certain lifestyle that someone from the outside might think odd. Looking deeper into it though, the Nazarites, as they did their practices, became close to God and were are able to fulfill the Lord’s will.

Choice 3: Leviticus 17-25. Holiness to the Lord

Choice 3: Leviticus 17-25. Holiness to the Lord

1. Read Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8. Write a sentence that could be used as a theme for the book of Leviticus. Read the Bible Dictionary entry for “Holiness” (pgs. 703-4) and compare it with what is said in the Guide to the Scriptures entry for “Sanctification” (available online at http://lds.org/scriptures/gs/sanctification?lang=eng.)

Be holy for our Father is holy.

Then answer the following questions in writing:

·      What does it mean to be holy and sanctified?

To be holy and sanctified means to me pure and clean, to be set apart, and to be not of the world.

·      Why could Jehovah command His followers to be holy?

He himself is holy and no unclean think shall live in his presence. He wants us to be live with him and therefore he wants us to be like unto him. Jesus was and still is a perfect example of holiness. He was perfect but yet he let himself be baptized to let us all see how to follow our father’s commandments.

·      What could we do today to avoid the same downfall?

We’ve been taught many times… we can live in the world but not be of the world. We should set ourselves apart from unrighteousness.

·      How can the principles you have studied to this point in the book of Leviticus help you become holy?

Putting my knowledge into practice would the best way to help me become holy. The Lord teaches us principles, he gave us sound minds so therefore, we ought to use our God-given talents to govern ourselves based on his teachings.  

2. Read Leviticus 18:4-5 and write a brief statement of how keeping the commandments applies to these verses. Read Leviticus 19:3-4, 11-20, 28-31; 20:10, 13 and make a list of commandments from these verses. Highlight the commandments from your list that you think the world struggles with the most today. Make note of the commandment that you want to improve in the most. Write some ideas of how you plan to improve in keeping that commandment.

The Lord is the ultimate judge. There will come a time that we will stand before the Lord and make judgments based on what we did here on earth.

• No whoredoms
• Do not judge
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not worship idols
• Do not bare false witnesses
• Do not lie
• Be just in all our dealings with others
• Keep the Sabbath day holy.

I want to keep my judgments to myself or at least hold off before I make one. I need to learn to understand other people first before acting or making final judgments.