“Establish … a House of God”

Student Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 95; 109; 110; Our Heritage, pages 33–36; D&C 88:119; D&C 97:15–16; D&C 101:22; D&C 124:39

Additional Teacher Reading: 2 Nephi 5:16; Mosiah 1:10; 2:1; 3 Nephi 11:1; Malachi 4:5–6; D&C 97:15–17  Acts 2:1–4 Abraham 2:9–11; D&C 138:53–56

Is there any aspect of Mormonism more simultaneously distinctive to outsiders, emphasized to insiders, yet misunderstood by pretty much everyone as the temple? These majestic edifices represent the pinnacle of Mormon worship and represent great sacrifice. Service at the temple involves high ritual and embodied worship to a degree unknown elsewhere in the faith. Yet far too often, members don’t feel empowered and illuminated in this House of God. The goal of this episode is to help listeners improve their relationship with the temple. 

In this episode we will discuss:

• The role of the temple in the contemporary Church
• What it means to us
• How we talk about it
• Temples in church history 
• Temples in the ancient world
• Temples in the Bible
• Thoughts on how we can make our relationship with the temple more meaningful and valuable

Look forward to coverage of points such as temple clothing, Adam and Eve, and the symbolism of the Plan of Salvation in the temple, as well as a discussion of how the experience may differ for men and women.

Please post your comments and questions here, in the facebook group, or email them to me at MormonSundaySchool at gmail.

You can access my Lesson Notes here

You can access my Reading Notes here

Suggested Resources

• Devery Anderson’s history of temple worship (and he will be on the podcast!) 
• Temple Ordinances entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism
• Matthew Brown, Symbols in Stone on Temple symbolism
• Michael Wilcox’s House of Glory
• Sacred Symbols: Finding Meaning in Rites, Rituals, and Ordinances 
• Richard Bennett on the commencement of endowments and sealings for the dead in BYU Studies
• An interview on the relationship between Mormonism and Masonry
• A longer, multi-part discussion on the connections between Mormonism and Masonry

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for his amazingly quick post production. If he gets any faster, he will be editing before I record!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

“The Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast”

Student Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 59:13–14, 21; 119; 120; Genesis 14:18–20; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8–12 (cf. 3 Nephi 13:16–18); D&C 64:23; 119; Isaiah 58:5–11; D&C 59:13–16

Additional Teacher Reading: Matthew 6:16–18; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; (JST Matthew 4:2) Luke 4:2–14

This lesson is about sacrifices, one easier than the other–tithing and fasting (guess which is which). Money is one of those topics considered impolite to discuss, and the message that all we have belongs to God and therefore God should be able to command what we should do with it is certainly a bold and often unwelcome claim!

In this lesson we will explore

• How tithing functions and is talked about at Church
• Tithing in early Church history
• Tithing in the Bible
• Personal approaches to tithing.
• Fasting and fast offerings
• The core question of how we can give of our substance to further God’s work in responsible, effective ways.

And above all this lesson will invite reflection on the relationship between tithing, fast offerings, and other worthy giving.

I am heartbroken to say that for the first (and only!) time, I forgot to push record for the discussion! So this is an unusual episode. Following the lesson, Bonnie and I try to reconstruct and give some of the feel of an earlier epic conversation with Bonnie, Rock, Kevin, and John. The episode then has my portion of the earlier conversation which was recorded.

Feel free to continue the conversation by posting your comments and questions here, in the facebook group, or email them to me at MormonSundaySchool at gmail.

You can access my Lesson Notes here.

You can access my Reading Notes here.

(I apologize neither is more complete than usual; I had a crazy week!)

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for heroic work getting this messy episode in shape.

Resources

Tithing

• Encyclopedia of Mormonism entry on Tithing
• History of Tithing
• Blog post about Church finances from a member in New Zealand
• Rock Waterman’s carefully researched post about the history and nature of tithing
• Thoughtful reflections about how what is “tithable income” at By Common Consent
• The benefits of tithing from a broader perspective

Fasting

• Medical benefits of fasting

Charity

• Guidelines for choosing a good charity
• Charity navigator
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates voluntarily gave up his status as wealthiest person in the world because of his philanthropy.
• Kiva microloans.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

“Thou Shalt … Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day”

Student Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 59; Bible Dictionary, “Sabbath,” pages 764–65; 3 Nephi 18:6–7; Exodus 20:8–11;  Isaiah 58:13–14; Mark 2:23–28; Mosiah 18:23;

Additional Teacher Reading: D&C 20:77, 79; D&C 25:12; D&C 64:34; D&C 97:8;  D&C 109:13; Genesis 2:1–3;  Exodus 31:13–17; Matthew 12:12; Luke 13:10–17; John 5:1–19; 1 Corinthians 11:28–29; Topical Guide, “Sabbath,” 441; 3 Nephi 18:29; Mormon 9:29

The pace of modern life is unrelenting. Too many of us never stop. We never rest. We are always available, always on call–a text message away from work and distraction. There is wisdom is pausing, stopping for a moment, having times of quiet and reflection. And this is the purpose of the Sabbath, a term that means “to stop or rest.”

This lesson will review the history of the Sabbath in both Jewish and Christian contexts, discuss the role the Sabbath plays in current Church culture, and finally explore our need for times of rest and renewal.

Nathan, Dorothy and Michael discuss the lesson, with Michael providing an experienced take on the Sabbath from a Jewish perspective.

You can access my Lesson Notes here

You can access my Reading Notes here.

Resources:

• The Sabbath World by Judith Shulevitz
• 24/6, a book by a doctor about the need and health benefits of a weekly pause.
• Podcast on the Sabbath World (also can be found on iTunes)
• A TED talk on the importance of time off and rest
• A RadioWest episode about sleep, because the Sabbath is a “day of rest” in more ways than one, and similar principles to both types of rest.
• and RadioLab on sleep, just cause.

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for his amazing work editing, with the fastest turnaround time ever!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Student Reading: D&C 46; Articles of Faith 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12–13; Moroni 10:8–18; Our Heritage, pages 42–43, 47–48, 63,

Additional Teacher Reading: D&C 42:13–14,D&C 43:8, D&C 50, D&C 88:122, 2 Nephi 33:1

• Spiritual gifts in Church History, including the manifestations of spiritual gifts to women
• Spiritual gifts in the Biblical tradition
• Spiritual gifts in other religions
• Spiritual gifts in human nature, with an emphasis on differing gifts

Carl, Jessica, Lisa and Ryan provide a rewarding and illuminating discussion.

And for the first time, download or listen to our bonus discussion here! Ryan’s gifted wife Christa shares her perspective.

You can access my Reading Notes here.

You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Continue the conversation by posting your comments and questions here, in the facebook group, or email them to me at MormonSundaySchool at gmail.

Resources

• Daughters of Light, a book by Carol Lynn Pearson about spiritual gifts among women in the early Church. Unfortunately out of print so you need to find it used.
• The moral roots of liberals and conservatives, a TED talk by Jonathan Haidt about how we are wired to be liberal or conservative, and how we desperately need both perspectives.
• William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience.

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for his timely post-production.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Law of Consecration

Student Reading:  Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–42; 51; 78; 82; 104:11–18; Our Heritage, page 26; 4 Nephi 1:3; D&C 49:20; D&C 105:5

Additional Teacher Reading: D&C 19:26;D&C 29:34–35;D&C 64:34; D&C70:14; D&C72:3–4; D&C83:5–6;  D&C 92:1;D&C 104;D&C 107:99;  Moses 7:18;Acts 4:32, 34–35;  4 Nephi 1:1–3, 12–13, 15.Psalm 24:1;Jacob 2:17

Why is “mine!” often among our first words? One of the most sensitive, difficult, and important questions involves resource allocation. Who gets what? Who has the right to what? Is there a minimum of resources that every person deserves? What level of inequality is ethical? What makes possession ethical?

The Law of Consecration holds a complex status in Church practice and culture. Everyone understands tithing, but what is consecration? Is it the same as the United Order? Does it mean no one can have more than anyone else? We still promise to obey it, but how does that impact the way we live?

The powerful message of the Law of Consecration is that all things belong to the Lord, and that God desires that we use our property to care for those in need. This lesson will discuss:

• Scriptures relating to the Law of Consecration, including the themes of unity and equality in the New Testament and Book of Mormon 
• The theology behind the Law of Consecration
• The historical context of this principle
• The realities of economic inequality today which make this principle so vital to understand and responsibly implement

Jared, Jennifer, and Heber provide an insightful discussion.

Continue the conversation by posting your comments and questions here, in the facebook group, or email them to me at MormonSundaySchool at gmail.

You can access my Lesson Notes here.

You can access my Reading Notes here.

Resources

• Steven Harper’s discussion of the Law of Consecration
• Compelling video about wealth inequality in America
• TED talk on how wealth inequality harms societies
• Orson Scott Card parable about Consecration
• Economist article on problems with growing wealth inequality
• Inequality put in perspective, if the world were a village of 100 people
• Ways to help the poorest in the world
• Efforts to help and empower women–probably the most effective way to solve the world’s problems
• The Life You Can Save
• Kiva Microloans

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for post-production.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

“The Gathering of My People”

Student Reading: D&C 29:1–8; 33:3–7; 37; 38:24–41; 52:2–5,42–43; 57:1–3; 110:11; Articles of Faith 1:10; Our Heritage pages 16–23, 37–39, D&C 39:15, D&C 95:8; 105:33; 110:9, D&C 123:12, 1 Nephi 15:12–17, 1 Nephi 22:11–12

Additional Teacher Reading: D&C 31:3, D&C 45:71, 39:11; 88:81,Isaiah 2:2–3; 3 Nephi 20:22; 3 Nephi 21:22–28; Ether 13:2–12; Moses 7:61–62,D&C 63:24, 36–48, D&C 28:9, D&C 30:5–6; 32:1–3, D&C 42:62, D&C 54:8, D&C 115:6 Isaiah 11:12  2 Nephi 25:15; 2 Nephi 25:14 3 Nephi 20:33; 1 Nephi 15:19–20; 2 Nephi 9:1–2; 2 Nephi 10:8 D&C 109:62–67

Belonging is one of our greatest human needs, and there aren’t many more poignant and powerful ideas than that of “coming home.” This lesson will explore the concept of “gathering”, or more poetically put, our Heavenly Parents bringing us together so we can help each other come home. We will discuss:

• The concepts of exile and return/gathering in the Jewish Scriptures
• The history of the twelve tribes
• the role of the idea of the twelve tribes in the ministry of Jesus (hint: How many disciples did he have?)
• the concept of gathering in early Mormonism
• the place of gathering in the current church, including declarations of lineage in Patriarchal blessings

Jenne and Ryan contribute an engaging and enjoyable conversation that balances out the lesson.

Continue the conversation by posting your questions and comments here, in the facebook group, or email them to me at MormonSundaySchool at gmail.

You can access my Lesson Notes here

You can access my Reading Notes here.

Recommended Resources

• Conference talk by Elder Nelson on the scattering and gathering of Israel
• Article by Armand Mauss on the early search for the “tribe of Ephraim”
• Article by Armand Mauss on Mormon conceptions of race and lineage 
• Article by Irene Bates on Patriarchal blessings 
• An amazing National Geographic resource about the history and interrelatedness of humanity
• A Nova program and Guardian article on some of the speculative but fun explorations of genetics and quests for the Lost Tribes

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to Nathan Jones for the audio editing and James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for adding the finishing touches.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download