Ezra lived in the Israelite “post-apocalyptic” period. The glorious kingdom was gone, the city of Jerusalem and its Temple destroyed, the Davidic line lost, God’s chosen people had been hauled to Babylon, and only a small remnant returned to try to rebuild the Temple. Ezra believed that these events were to due Israelite infidelity to the covenants they had made. Setting aside what those commandments were, Ezra’s prayer in chapter 9 strikes me as a model of how we should come before the Lord “with fear and trembling.” Continue reading
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Come Follow Me: Ezra 1–8; Nehemiah 1–2; 4; 6; 8
(Reposted, but not updated) Ezra and Nehemiah originally constituted one book, so it works to treat them together. Let’s review the timeframe and story here. Continue reading
Announcements: FAIR Conference, the Holy Land, and Logos
A few quick announcements:
Come Follow Me- 1 Kings 17-19
(Reposted but not updated, so many of the links may not work.)
These are some of my favorite chapters. Elijah and his fiery talents inspired our creative fire-building on many a scout trip, and even managed to get the back of my head quite singed once. For some excellent background on that story of the fiery showdown, see John Tvedtnes, “Elijah, Champion of Israel’s God”, Ensign July 1990. Continue reading
Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 23: 1 Samuel 18-24
David on the Harp.
(Reposted, but not updated. If you find a broken link, you can plug it in to the Wayback Machine to get the content.)
Here’s the podcast on these chapters, with some useful notes.
The purpose of this lesson is to focus on the friendship between David and Jonathan, but the narrative is primarily about David trying to avoid being killed. The guy trying to kill him is no other than his father-in-law Saul (since he married Michal), who is also Jonathan’s father. Your in-laws don’t seem so bad now, eh? Continue reading
Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22: 1 Samuel 9-17
David and Goliath, Sistine Chapel. Public domain via wikimedia.
(Reposted, but not updated)
First off, go listen to my old podcast here where I talk about David, Goliath, and the Philistines. Continue reading
Who Put Bathsheba on the Roof? Leonard Cohen and Failure to Study in Context, That’s Who
Apparently, the idea has entered popular consciousness that in 2 Samuel 11, Bathsheba herself was on the roof. I’ve been confused as to why people seem to think this, since the text doesn’t actually say so; it’s David who was on his flat palace roof, trying to cool off. So, where is this idea coming from that Bathsheba was “bathing” on the roof? Continue reading
The new Church History evolution topic essay, with commentary
A new Church History Topic essay on Organic Evolution appeared recently. These are not full-blown essays, like the Gospel Topics. Rather, they are meant as concise historical/conceptual summaries provided as background for the Saints volumes, not as a stand-alone lengthy exploration of a subject. You can find them linked, in footnotes, in Saints online. I’d like to provide some notes and comments on this short background essay.
Tales from the Archive: William Berrett on Scholarship in 1958
William E. “Ed” Berrett (1902-1993) figures prominently in 20th century LDS education history. He taught seminary, wrote manuals for the Church and served on the General Sunday school board, briefly became assistant US attorney in Alaska before opening his own practice in Salt Lake, and then returned to Church service. He became a BYU Religion professor, served as vice-president of BYU and CES, and eventually head of Seminaries, Institutes, and Church colleges (excluding BYU.)
On July 11, 1958, President Berrett gave an address to Seminary and Institute faculty at BYU, titled “Scholarship.” It’s quite surprising, in some ways. Below, some excerpts.
Book deals!— Wright, Alter, Misreading Scripture, and others
I’ll post these deals occasionally as I notice them.
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