3 Ours

So many insights bring to life Abraham.  Such truths came forth from Joseph Smith and his gift of translation, as he translated these ancient records from the catacombs of Egypt. Such highlights:

Before he was being brought up for sacrifice, he "lifted up his voice", and the Lord "hearkened and heard his voice", and "the angel unloosed my bands". Abraham 1:15

and as his life was tried to be taken, these words from the Lord..."Behold I will lead thee by the hand, and I will take thee", "to put upon thee my name". Abraham 1:18

And through Abraham's adventures, he proclaims, "therefore, eternity was our covering and our rock and our salvation".  Abraham 2:16

Prophecy In Scripture 2

A viewer of this blog identified this great example:

Isaiah 53:3-5 & D&C 19:16-19

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

Prophecy In Scripture

As you study, a great learning message occassionally is demonstrated, that of how scripture verses or references witness to each other as prophecy.  This happens often in Topical Guide Study.  Like this message found in:

 Zech. 13:6; D&C 45:52

Threes

In your topical guide, topic review- I have found that linking scriptures numerically and forming creative phrases or ideas can help you remember verses and scriptures.  For example these profound scriptures identified from: Jesus Christ, Mission Of,

Hebrews 5:9- "source of eternal salvation"

Mosiah 3: 9- "that salvation might come unto the children of men"

Hebrews 9:15- "mediator of the new covenant"

Each verse has 9 identified, and multiply 5 and 3. And Hebrews and King Mosiah shop at H&M.  

List

A common feature of Scripture Man has been the identification of the effective learning tool of Lists. Here is one that I found:

1) We strive to live worthy of the spirit.
2) We must be willing to receive the spirit.
3) we must recognize the spirit when it comes, and
4) we must act on the first prompting.
Elder Rasband

A great exercise with this list, or any list, is to identify a scriptural character with the listed item.

Learned At Church

A great power to your study is writing down the things you learn from lessons at Church.  I enjoyed three thoughts from Sunday worship:

1) the significance of the words bare/bear testimony; origin: bear- to carry with you, and bare- to cleanse.

2) the compounded interest (time) and the mountain of evidence (gospel study, scriptures) required in building one's testimony.

3) the pattern of perfection identified through payment of  your Tithes and Offerings.

Such a study from these messages given brings meaning to your learning, but causes one to be more mentally involved  in worship exercises.

How The Temple II

Abraham was an "everyman" according to Hugh Nibley.  He wasn't loaded materially- yet, he had what he needed.  He endured his lot, and sacrificed all for the Lord.  He could have had it all, but relinquished material things or Pharoah's honor for a knowledge toward heavenly constellations- as a rightful heir.

Here described is what he sought:

Abraham 1:

2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.

If we hold this type of belief and desire for seeking divine knowledge, through our temple worship and service- Wow, what a difference!