Ep 147 | Exodus 7-13, Come Follow Me (March 28-April 3)

[@lornaphillips7888]

I read these scriptures before I listen to your podcasts. You add SO MUCH UNDERSTANDING to my studies. I cannot thank you both enough for all you are doing to expand our knowledge. In my prayers of gratitude, you are both in them. 🌺🌿🌺

[@marilynlinford9387]

My heart is always lifted when I listen to your insights. Thank you for taking time to reach so many.

[@marilynjensen8096]

Thank you for these amazing lessons, I am learning so much. Finally, I am enjoying the Old Testament!

[@janalynsansom611]

I have never loved or looked forward to the Old Testament so much. Thank you guys for all you do!

[@aprilgriffin7126]

I love the patterns we are learning in the Old Testament. I’m so grateful for your combined unfolding these particulars as well as pulling in the The Book of Mormon parallels. All things together…for our good.

[@denisekyle6603]

I just love these discussions , lessons, and insights that you provide for us all! Through these chapters we are learning about the capabilities of our Father in heaven and the Anti Christ , and how to recognize the difference! All these experiences and lessons were not only for Israel back then , but also for Israel now ! ( US ) so we may not be deceived !

[@nancycole5838]

I am learning so much!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!!

[@naidakoelliker944]

I really enjoy you lessons!! Thank you so much for the law of increasing witnesses!!!!

[@rolandbates6978]

Thank you for your enlightening insights! You both bring attention to so much that I easily overlook and take for granted! And thank you both for your testimonies!

[@sherelyncureton2898]

The Old Testament has been a stumbling block for me. But as I listen to you guys explain even in the different languages Hebrew and maybe Latin, it becomes very clear that we are in Lord's hands all the time. Thank you so much for creating talking scripture. It helps me every week as I listen through your testimonies of this gospel.

[@ClintK.]

I fully agree! They help me think of things in ways I haven't considered and the Hebrew and ancient culture events at the time.frame aure give me a new perspective to see how they possibly thought anciently of such a passage!

[@jamesmaclean5586]

Thank you for your good offerings

[@merlguth5736]

Another great lesson! Thanks for pointing out the symbolism to our day. There is much to ponder and learn from this.

[@jaredvaughan1665]

Thanks

[@richardpineda1364]

Thank you 👍

[@kalynrobison6192]

In regards to the Lord turning the Nile to blood, I had a new idea occur to me, to look at more of a why did God choose this particular plague. Since God is deliberate and nothing happens by mistake or accident, one idea is that one reason could be that God turned the Nile to blood because of all of the Hebrew babies and children that were drowned there and on the current pharaoh's father's command, when he was in power. Just a thought.

[@talkingscripture]

I know that some look at natural causes for some of these, but I do not believe that we discussed red algae blooms in the podcast. I think you may be referring to some other discussion of these chapters.

[@kalynrobison6192]

@@talkingscripture No, that was just a thought I've had over the years. Your lesson just had me pondering and those were just some thoughts I had.

[@RaeannPeck]

In Holy PLACES we do NOT MARK OURSELVES. We present ourselves in His Holy House to receive His Mark through authority of His Holy Priesthood. WE RECEIVE the Mark by Authority. God's authority. We don't mark ourselves, anymore than we baptize ourselves. I do love these podcasts and feel the Spirit teaching me. Thanks so much for what you do. Such a blessing to me.

[@brycedunford5459]

I disagree with both of those statements. Certainly we don’t do it literally, but we do symbolically and spiritually. That is why, I believe, Alma baptized himself with Helam (Mosiah 18:14). He certainly wasn’t literally baptizing himself, but he was doing so symbolically and spiritually. He was telling God that he renewed the covenant in his heart. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I anoint myself for God‘s blessings with my thoughts, not with oil. With my words. I anoint myself for God‘s blessings with my eyes and what I look at. All covenants are two way. Never one way. Yes, I receive His anointing but I also let Him know that I desire it by symbolically anointing myself.

[@angspendlove]

It might be interesting to some to point out that in most Latin languages there would be no way to differentiate between the ideas you're expressing. It's called a reflexive verb which in English we say "get baptized" "get married" "get dressed" "get endowment" etc as if it's an external thing that happens to us. In other Latin languages (English is one) you say I baptize myself, I marry myself, etc or, translated a different way 'I get myself baptized' 'I get myself married' So Yes, we RECEIVE (or get) marked, but it's reflexive, a thing we put on ourselves through our own decision or effort.

[@josephgiles4027]

I see symbolism of "crossing one's self" as the Catholics do, in the brushing of the lamb's blood above the door, then to one side, and then to the other side of the door. Am I wrong?

[@karinabloom135]

The plagues almost represent all the evil afflictions the kings put upon the Isrealites over their yrs of bondage, telling people to kill their baby sons in the river Nile, are we bei G asked to do this again in our days?

[@paepaeulupoo19]

I love the book of Mormon but I believe this year is for the old testament. You guys almost spend half of the time on the book of Mormon. The Lord inspired us this year to study the old Testament. Love you guys anyway.

[@brycedunford5459]

I would encourage you to read 1 Nephi 13. The Bible, when it was first written, was plain and precious and pure and easy to understand. Then it fell into the hands of the Great and Abominable church which stripped it of plain and precious truths. The book of Mormon restores those plain and precious truths. In other words the Old Testament has to be read through the lens of the restored truths of the book of Mormon for us to fully understand the message the Lord wanted us to know.

[@luanagardner1815]

I'm still learning so I apologize... how does Satan have the power to bind bodies and lose them? I'm not sure what that means.

[@talkingscripture]

Great question Luana. Joseph Fielding Smith put it this way: “All down through the ages and in almost all countries, men have exercised great occult and mystical powers, even to the healing of the sick and the performing of miracles. Soothsayers, magicians, and astrologers were found in the courts of ancient kings. They had certain powers by which they divined and solved the monarch’s problems, dreams, etc. One of the most striking examples of this is recorded in Exodus, where Pharaoh called ‘the wise men and the sorcerers’ who duplicated some of the miracles the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron to perform. When Aaron threw down his rod, it became a serpent. The Egyptian magicians threw down their rods, and they also became serpents. … The Savior declared that Satan had the power to bind bodies of men and women and sorely afflict them [see Matthew 7:22-23; Luke 13:16]. If Satan has power to bind the bodies, he surely must have power to loose them. It should be remembered that Satan has great knowledge and thereby can exercise authority and to some extent control the elements, when some greater power does not intervene.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:176, 178.) Robert J. Matthews discusses this as well, stating that since Satan is outside of the confines of our mortal environment, he is not subject to the same laws that mortals are. See: Robert J. Matthews, Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], p. 525-527. It would seem to be that Joseph Fielding Smith is commenting on the scriptures that give the Adversary credit for “binding” certain individuals. For examples, see JSH 1.15: After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. James E. Faust testified of the power of the Adversary when he said, “It is not good practice to become intrigued by Satan and his mysteries. No good can come from getting close to evil. Like playing with fire, it is too easy to get burned: “The knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 373). The only safe course is to keep well distanced from him and any of his wicked activities or nefarious practices. The mischief of devil worship, sorcery, casting spells, witchcraft, voodooism, black magic, and all other forms of demonism should be avoided like the plague. However, Brigham Young said that it is important to “study … evil, and its consequences” (Discourses of Brigham Young, comp. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, pp. 256-57). Since Satan is the author of all evil in the world, it would therefore be essential to realize that he is the influence behind the opposition to the work of God.” (James E. Faust, “The Great Imitator.” See: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1987/10/the-great-imitator?lang=eng ) In this regard, the Adversary has used his powers (since he is not bound by mortal law) to do things that we cannot explain. We see some evidence of this in the New Testament (see for example, Mark 5.1-13). I believe this is what Joseph Fielding Smith intended by the quote read in the podcast. My purpose in sharing his quote as well as Robert J. Matthews’ quote was to emphasize how Christians interpreted Exodus 7.10-12 differently than the ancient interpreters. I hope this helps. -Mike Day

[@luanagardner1815]

@@talkingscripture Yes! Thanks for taking the time to help explain it to me!